Is voice123 a sc. am, or misleading people?

Scott Nilsen · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 22:43 (GMT) Post subject:

Careful...I think there was a baby in that bathwater.

Surely you're picking up what I'm laying down.

Hail Wilson · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 22:46 (GMT) Post subject: reply

It sounds like the majority of you so far have nothing but positive comments to say about voice123. My opening comments were harsh, but I wanted to ensure I got attention regarding my concern here. When I was in the chat room with customer service, I was trying in part, to see if fluffing voice 123's feathers would get them to give me some names and phone numbers of clients. You see, if I could reach three (3) clients for the mere purpose of confirming that they are 1)seeking a voice talent through v123, and 2) did they get my audition through v123. Then regardless of the answers, I would simply say thank you, and be on my way. Until I get my first gig, I guess I'm going to have SOME reasonable suspicion. In the meantime, I'll look at and respond to some leads. Is there anybody out there, if I email a spot to them, that could do a post production of it? I don't have a lot of money to spend, but I could pay something.
Sorry I stirred up the hornets nest. Have a great weekend.

Regards,
Hail

Joe J Thomas · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:00 (GMT) Post subject: Re: reply

Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:03 (GMT) Post subject:

I don't know if the following helps but it may. I've been a voice over for 17 years, last month was my best ever. I'm a Royal Television Society Award Winner (2004), my most recent movie voice over work includes The Queen starring Helen Mirren and Volver starring Penelope Cruz, my last session today was a TV promo the anticipated audience for which will be around 120,000,000 ..... Impressed? Don't be be, mother still thinks I've brought shame on the family!

Having given you the context here's the most important piece of information. My income derived from Voice123 jobs ..... Zero, zip, nil, nada, rein, sweet f*** all! Lots of people on this site, in fact the majority have nothing to show for their premium membership except a $199 hole in the bank account.

Brian Hart · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:04 (GMT) Post subject:

September Day Leach · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:12 (GMT) Post subject:

well, I'm fairly sure there would be some MAJOR confidentiality issues if V123 handed out client info.

You are a very small fish in a very large pond. You're a male voice over artist and your numbers are many. I don't know if this is what you do full-time, but I know is a major advantage to able to sit and wait for new leads to come into your inbox and be among the first to answer. It's no sc. am, a ton of big clients use V123. When I was first starting out, I didn't get many jobs either. It wasn't because it's a racket, it's because I was being judged against some of the best talent on the planet. I still remember my very first job I landed and the very first private lead I got. You'll get there!

I listened to your demos and, though you have a nice tone at times, you seem to have one voice. Not a whole lot of depth. Voicemail would suit you but the other spots your recorded for your demo were kinda flat. The pizza one suited your voice the best of all of them. Your radio imaging is just not good for your voice. No one would ever,EVER use you to sell Justin Timberlake. It just won't happen. You would do better with a Christian/AC demo. Stick to what you're good at. I'd love to do soccer mom reads, but that just isn't my voice. I'm a sex kitten voice. The last 4 jobs I've landed all have to do with dating, lube, sex, and love. It's just what I'm good at. Do I enjoy constantly talking about the penis?..well, yeah,kinda..lol.

Also, I think a better mic than a Shure 58 would do you some good. You have a higher pitched voice and a condenser mic would give you a little warmth. Try talking from your chest, feeling your chest and throat rumble a bit. Right now you talk in the back of your mouth and a little nasal. Speaking deeper from the chest will give you a more pleasant tone. If you want to try out mics, there's a Sam Ash store near the Cobb Galleria that will let you test them.

I know those last two paragraphs are unsolicited advice, but you're a fellow Atlantan so I'm motivated to help. Hope I didn't terribly offend! Smile

Lisa Zachary-Kent · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:14 (GMT) Post subject:

If I may be so bold, Hail....

Firstly...do you really think calling the client is going to result in something positive? I mean...first off, how will they be expected to remember YOU specifically out of 200 or so auditions? Secondly, they OPT to keep their identity unknown to the talents for a reason. It's like Robert said, they are trying to avoid being bombarded by emails and phone calls from hungry voice talents wishing to sell their services, and competitively trying to land a gig over 150 or so other talents. I'm thinking to be contacted by any of them might just irritate the client, which will SURELY blow any shot you may have had at the job.

Also...why would you be suspicious of V123 until you land your first job? Landing a job is very hard. But several of us have stated that we HAVE, in fact, landed jobs here, or received some kind of notification that our audition was heard, but were NOT chosen. I mean...surely you don't think we're fibbing about that do ya? I'm not sure how long you've been here....but I've been here since Feb. I've sent in at LEAST 500 auditions, and have only landed 3 or 4 jobs, and that's more than some people here have.

Its just my humble opinion here, but I think you should give it a chance before you get angry and gear up for some kind of crusade against V123.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:22 (GMT) Post subject:

"People don't do nothin' no more just for the love of it."
-Don Henley

If you love what you do you will succeed. Don't substitute a lack of talent, desire, or marketing prowess for a sc. am on someone else's part.

Real jobs to real people = not a sc. am.

Amy Snively · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:23 (GMT) Post subject:

Hail! In the world of professional voice over work (which I do full time, BTW) the steps are:

Record the audition (in your home, in a studio, at your agent's-- whatever).
Submit the audition (or it is submitted on your behalf).
Forget about the audition.

80% of this job is trying to get a job. You do NOT follow up after submitting an audition. You might as well order a neon green shirt that says "Warning: n00b"

Please tune in to hear me narrate the one-hour Ult!mate Wedd!ng Gu!de special on H G T V tomorrow night (Saturday 6/2, 8pm PT/ET). A gig I got through V123. I did two majorish commercials last week, with residuals and everything, thanks to V123. I don't think Voice123 is a sc. am.

Edited to add: The real step one is make sure your demos don't suck. Most of the really juicy gigs landed through V123 are not done through the cattle call process, but are Private Leads. If the commerical and promo demos on your site are amateurish, then your already pretty slim chances of booking something awesome diminish to something close to zilch. (Hail: Post your demo here or on VO-BB for feedback. In case anyone is thinking of sending their demo to me, I regret I am unavailable, largely unqualified, and certainly too nice to privately assess anyone's demos. But I have seen awesome pro-level feedback on the boards.)

September Day Leach · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Amy, I have this set to record! Can't WAIT to hear you girl!!

Debbie Deutsch · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:34 (GMT) Post subject:

I'm waiting for it Amy...can't WAIT to hear YOU! Very Happy

Amy Snively · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:41 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks, Girls! Very Happy

Robert Jadah · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:44 (GMT) Post subject:

You're in for a treat, September.

And Hail...last word from me here.
Read through literally hundreds of posts lamenting 800, 1000, even 1500 auditions with no jobs.
Then consider the successful Mr. Banks' V123 track record.

Please realize that this site is a microcosm of the bursting, bustling voiceover world: the competition is blindingly intense. Nobody makes a living here; few break even. Some make a nice little pile.

But to not have received a job in five months?
Come back and complain in seven more.

Voice123 On!

Amy Snively · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007, 23:46 (GMT) Post subject:

I luv me some Jadah! respekt

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007, 00:02 (GMT) Post subject:

Amy... your wedding show will be on at my house! Out in my "smoking lounge," my garage. BUT, I have a high quality sound system connected to that $60, 13 inch TV and I will be listening hard and telling my wife... "I converse with this woman and she is good and an inspiration to me."

Ah.... those private leads I don't ever seem to get. Gotta work on my demos some more this weekend.